A bill has been presented in Maine with the intention of creating a group to explore alternatives to ethanol in gasoline. Supporters of the bill claim ethanol damages engines and pushes up food prices, but critics say it is pointless due to the federal mandate for ethanol use in the state. The group which would be created by LD 839 will study the impact of ethanol on the state’s compliance with the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments and the negative impacts of ethanol.
Monday, June 27, 2011
MBD Order OriginOil Algae Extraction Tech
Australian MBD Energy placed an order for a large scale algae extraction system from OriginOil, which will be able to process 300 gallons of algae culture a minute. The system will extract CO2 from the emissions of one of MBD’s coal power stations for absorption into a one-hectare algae production facility. MBD intend this to be a trial of OriginOil’s technology, with a planned second 80 hectare facility and potential further expansion. Riggs Eckelberry, the MBD CEO, claimed that OriginOil were chosen for the simplicity and efficiency of their extraction methods, which he believes can be used to produce algae biofuel that is cost competitive with petroleum.
Boosting Photosynthesis to Boost Feedstock Production
Research finds the efficiency of photosynthesis could be improved by synthetic biology, using solar power technologies as a template, which could be valuable for boosting crop yields.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) reported in Science that lessons learned in the course of photovoltaic research could be used to make photosynthesis more efficient and in turn, increase the productivity of crops. In the paper, titled “Comparing Photosynthetic and Photovoltaic Efficiencies and Recognizing the Potential for Improvement,” researchers conclude that under optimal conditions PV is 30% more efficient than photosynthesis, as more energy is consumed in photosynthesis to synthesize biomass. They theorize that it is possible to use common principles between the two areas of inquiry to produce both more efficient photovoltaics (for higher efficiencies in energy production) and more efficient cellular machinery for photosynthesis (resulting in more energy-dense crops). This could be done by expanding the range of light that can be absorbed by plants; naturally they only absorb a narrow range of light frequencies at the blue end of the spectrum. However, with synthetic biology this could be expanded to absorb light from across the spectrum, as is often the case in advanced solar cells. Also, if the mechanism of photosynthesis was mapped to identify inefficient parts, synthetic biology could be used to optimize them. This could be done to produce plants that convert light into usable energy with efficiency comparable to the best solar cells on the market.
Michigan State University Professor of Photosynthesis and Bioenergetics, David Kramer:
Professor Kramer’s own research suggests that replacing some of the photosynthetic machinery of the plant cell with that of a certain species of cyanobacteria could widen the range of light frequencies that can be converted into usable sugars. This would be ambitious, but a more easily achievable prospect in the near-term than a ground-up redesign.
Many genetic modifications developed for increasing crop yields do so by making the crop resistant to something which decreases the yield (such as drought or pests) rather than a modification which is aimed at increasing the growth of the plant in general. GM technology often involves “stacking” traits; a crop might be pesticide resistant, herbicide resistant and drought tolerant and optimised photosynthesis mechanisms would be a useful trait to stack with other common modifications to further increase the productivity of these crops. It could also be argued that optimized photosynthesis would be a “cleaner” modification than some common modifications; for example herbicide resistant crops which result in greater herbicide use which in turn has a negative environmental impact.
Regulatory hurdles for such crops will have to be overcome for this ambitious project to bear fruit. For example, in the EU there is a requirement for products with more than 0.9% GM material to be labelled, necessitating analytical methods which are capable of quantifying the amount of GM material in a sample which recognizes this new modification.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) reported in Science that lessons learned in the course of photovoltaic research could be used to make photosynthesis more efficient and in turn, increase the productivity of crops. In the paper, titled “Comparing Photosynthetic and Photovoltaic Efficiencies and Recognizing the Potential for Improvement,” researchers conclude that under optimal conditions PV is 30% more efficient than photosynthesis, as more energy is consumed in photosynthesis to synthesize biomass. They theorize that it is possible to use common principles between the two areas of inquiry to produce both more efficient photovoltaics (for higher efficiencies in energy production) and more efficient cellular machinery for photosynthesis (resulting in more energy-dense crops). This could be done by expanding the range of light that can be absorbed by plants; naturally they only absorb a narrow range of light frequencies at the blue end of the spectrum. However, with synthetic biology this could be expanded to absorb light from across the spectrum, as is often the case in advanced solar cells. Also, if the mechanism of photosynthesis was mapped to identify inefficient parts, synthetic biology could be used to optimize them. This could be done to produce plants that convert light into usable energy with efficiency comparable to the best solar cells on the market.
Michigan State University Professor of Photosynthesis and Bioenergetics, David Kramer:
“This is critical since it’s the process that powers all of life in our ecosystem. The efficiency of photosynthesis, and our ability to improve it, is critical to whether the entire biofuels industry is viable.”
“Plants are less efficient at capturing the energy in sunlight than solar cells mostly because they have too much evolutionary baggage. Plants have to power a living thing, whereas solar cells only have to send electricity down a wire. This is a big difference because if photosynthesis makes a mistake, it makes toxic byproducts that kill the organism. Photosynthesis has to be conservative to avoid killing the organisms it powers.”
Professor Kramer’s own research suggests that replacing some of the photosynthetic machinery of the plant cell with that of a certain species of cyanobacteria could widen the range of light frequencies that can be converted into usable sugars. This would be ambitious, but a more easily achievable prospect in the near-term than a ground-up redesign.
Many genetic modifications developed for increasing crop yields do so by making the crop resistant to something which decreases the yield (such as drought or pests) rather than a modification which is aimed at increasing the growth of the plant in general. GM technology often involves “stacking” traits; a crop might be pesticide resistant, herbicide resistant and drought tolerant and optimised photosynthesis mechanisms would be a useful trait to stack with other common modifications to further increase the productivity of these crops. It could also be argued that optimized photosynthesis would be a “cleaner” modification than some common modifications; for example herbicide resistant crops which result in greater herbicide use which in turn has a negative environmental impact.
Regulatory hurdles for such crops will have to be overcome for this ambitious project to bear fruit. For example, in the EU there is a requirement for products with more than 0.9% GM material to be labelled, necessitating analytical methods which are capable of quantifying the amount of GM material in a sample which recognizes this new modification.
India Could Become a Major Biofuel Supplier, Says Study.
Next generation bioethanol, produced with waste from India’s massive agricultural industry could be a major earner for the country in the future. Potentially, this could result in the creation of over a million jobs and displacement of 59% of gasoline used in the country with ethanol by 2020. In 2020, India’s 125 million tonnes of agricultural waste could be converted to 34bn liters of ethanol a year, according to a study by Bloomberg News Energy Finance. The study is titled Next-Generation Ethanol: What’s in it for India?, and was commissioned by Novozymes A/S.
Novozymes Executive Vice President, Thomas Nagy:
The study also found that a clear government mandate for next-gen ethanol use (rather than ethanol derived from food crops) as well as incentives for farmers to collect agricultural waste to be used as biofuel feedstock (rather than being left in fields or burned) would be necessary for this to be achieved, however.
Novozymes Executive Vice President, Thomas Nagy:
"By converting agricultural residues into fuel ethanol, India has the potential to reduce its dependence on imported petroleum. What’s more interesting is that this can be achieved without changing today’s agricultural land-use patterns or cultivating new energy crops. In addition, we already have the technology ready for deployment."
The study also found that a clear government mandate for next-gen ethanol use (rather than ethanol derived from food crops) as well as incentives for farmers to collect agricultural waste to be used as biofuel feedstock (rather than being left in fields or burned) would be necessary for this to be achieved, however.
The Open Fuel Standard Could Make A Healthier Ethanol Industry
The Open Fuel Standard intends to bring fuel competition to the pump, ensuring that a growing percentage of new cars are warranted to operate on a range of alternative fuels and helping the ethanol industry out of a dead-end for growth.
The bill was introduced by congressmen John Shimkus (R-IL), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD)and Steve Israel (D-NY); requiring 50% of new cars to be warranted for alternative fuels such as flex-fuel, biodiesel, hydrogen, bioethanol and a range of others by 2014. This would increase to 80% by 2016 and 95% by 2017. They claim the bill would allow consumers to choose; either for cost or for fuels from a particular source. They also claim that the bill would reduce dependence on foreign oil and would be a step towards sustainable fuel use. The idea is that this Act would provide certainty to investors that backing alternative fuels would be a growing investment and would also encourage fueling stations to supply a range of alternative fuels. Importantly; the bill is technology neutral, not specifically backing any one fuel type and if it passes, the bill will provide a better environment for alternative fuel growth and proliferation.
In 2008, GM, Ford and Chrysler stated that they were willing to make 50% of their new vehicles flex-fuel by 2012, which they estimate can be done at a cost of $100 per vehicle; not a great deal in the grand scheme of new car prices. This modification would allow the same vehicle to use a range of alcohol fuel blends in addition to gasoline so that consumers could respond to variation in fuel prices; effectively allowing an open market to select the most effective fuels. As it stands, alcohol fuels have the best position given the relatively large amount of infrastructure in place, investment and current research on the technology.
The Methanol Institute has declared its support for the Open Fuel Standard Act.
Methanol Institute Executive Director, Gregory Dolan:
The bill was introduced by congressmen John Shimkus (R-IL), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD)and Steve Israel (D-NY); requiring 50% of new cars to be warranted for alternative fuels such as flex-fuel, biodiesel, hydrogen, bioethanol and a range of others by 2014. This would increase to 80% by 2016 and 95% by 2017. They claim the bill would allow consumers to choose; either for cost or for fuels from a particular source. They also claim that the bill would reduce dependence on foreign oil and would be a step towards sustainable fuel use. The idea is that this Act would provide certainty to investors that backing alternative fuels would be a growing investment and would also encourage fueling stations to supply a range of alternative fuels. Importantly; the bill is technology neutral, not specifically backing any one fuel type and if it passes, the bill will provide a better environment for alternative fuel growth and proliferation.
In 2008, GM, Ford and Chrysler stated that they were willing to make 50% of their new vehicles flex-fuel by 2012, which they estimate can be done at a cost of $100 per vehicle; not a great deal in the grand scheme of new car prices. This modification would allow the same vehicle to use a range of alcohol fuel blends in addition to gasoline so that consumers could respond to variation in fuel prices; effectively allowing an open market to select the most effective fuels. As it stands, alcohol fuels have the best position given the relatively large amount of infrastructure in place, investment and current research on the technology.
The Methanol Institute has declared its support for the Open Fuel Standard Act.
Methanol Institute Executive Director, Gregory Dolan:
"The Open Fuel Standard Act is all about choice. By ensuring that new cars can operate on something other than gasoline, Americans can reap the benefits of multiple alternative fuels. Methanol in particular is poised to play significant role in reducing our dependence on gasoline, as the most affordable, easily deployed, sustainable fuel available that would retail at the pump today for just $3.19 per gasoline equivalent gallon."
Methanol fuel is one of the alternative fuels that could benefit from the OFS; it can be produced from natural gas or from biomass and can be produced relatively cheaply, though most engines are not designed to use it in high percentage blends and can be damaged by its use over time. With the increase in vehicles that can use alternative fuels, the methanol fuel market would be well placed to expand as it can be at pumps for $3.19 a gallon; less than current US gas prices. As gas prices continue to increase and alternative fuel producers strive to drive costs down, we might well see greater competition at the pumps and cheaper fuel.The bill addresses a problem that has been ongoing in biofuels; it provides a longer term solution to the ethanol blending wall than simply increasing the blending limit.The bill is not specific to fuel type, however in practice the fuels it will most likely benefit are alcohol based fuels by increasing their consumer base over the next few years and making room for growth. Growth in the ethanol fuel market at present is limited by blending restrictions; even with legislation to increase the limit from E10 to E15 in normal cars, this is only a short term fix. US ethanol production will catch up with this limit within a few years, a limit which is already being criticized for the damage E15 might do to normal gasoline engines. With more vehicles on the road which are warranted for using high percentage alcohol fuels such as E85, this would give the US ethanol industry more headroom to grow, more healthy competition and more incentive to implement more advanced production technologies to make a larger impact on future ethanol markets.
EZBiodiesel distribute homemade biodiesel processors
EZBiodiesel sell DIY biodiesel kits which they claim can be used to produce biodiesel for $1 a gallon and also offer an advisory service for how to get the most from these systems, which are manufactured by Summit Enterprises. Prices start at around $2500 for a basic, ready to run unit. Many small businesses have invested in one of these DIY biodiesel systems, as have a number of schools as tools for teaching about green energy. They can be used to produce biodiesel from oils, the availability of which is the limiting factor for anyone thinking of making biodiesel in their garage. Waste cooking oil is a common option, lending the processors well to use by restaurants and the like as a way to turn waste into value.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Welcome to Dispatches from the Bio-Based Economy!
Greetings and welcome to Dispatches from the Bio-Based Economy! I’m Yale Deskins, an event designer at Infocast, and I’ll be covering the key deals, trends, and technologies of the rapidly growing industrial biotechnology sector.
Perhaps better than most, as a business event designer I’m keenly aware that truly valuable insight on the promise and perils of any industry is a hard-won commodity. This is especially true of the bio-based economy, the continued expansion of which will touch nearly every aspect of modern daily life, and the bottom lines of the companies (big and small) that supply the products that enable it.
Infocast has established itself as a leading source for industrial (or "white") bio-tech business intelligence, successfully organizing summits and meetings on biomass, bio-fuels, and bio-chemicals for many years. By leveraging our experience and strong network of bio-tech players, I’ll be able to feature round-ups of interesting happenings, trend analysis, and interviews with the business leaders and tech innovators that are shaping the future of bio tech. What I’m most interested in however is the discussions that readers will generate. Who knows? It is very possible the brief comment you leave today will become the business opportunity of tomorrow.
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